How Can a Good God Allow Evil? Does Life Have Meaning?

Sometime last year I was asked how such a good God allows bad things to occur to friends and family that are honestly good people. As a result, I contemplated this question and searched for a way to appropriately address the issue.

We all understand how hard that question is for many of us – if not all of us. To understand for ourselves the broad issue of this subject, let alone being able to have a discourse with someone on the matter.

It’s fortunate that I came across this interview of Ravi Zacharias answering how can a good God allow evil? And how does life have to mean? This seems similar to questions we all have likely asked and considered ourselves over the years.

Thus, I thought it is appropriate to share this video.

Note: In case you were wondering, I did show this video to the person who asked me the question, and discussed their question(s) further.

Ron,
Thank you for entering to win a copy of my book, “How & Why to: Pray for Healing, Pray in Tongues & Give Prophecy.” I’m happy to say you have won the PDF version 🙂
Please email me jennifer.n.buzcynski@gmail.com so I may email it to you. May God bless you!
-Jen

There are several good points in the video. There is one point, however, that I’d like to comment, namely, Ravi’s “free will and love.” Although it is true that only a free person can love, what is essential to point out is that. we love God only after Christ makes us free to do so. He first has to raise us from spiritual death to love, indeed to have faith in Him as well, which is the prerequisite to love for Him. (Ephesians 2:10)

Hi!
Thanks for your thought. It is well taken!
The one remark I do have to make, which I assume you probably agree with, is that we already have the free will to love God – and can have a love for Him – before He takes us out what you are referring too. Let’s not forget that He has already freed us from out spiritual death before we even accept Him. Its simply a matter of if we take advantage of it or not.

That does seem so. Appears to be talking in a more general and concise fashion.

It’s kinda hard to address the questions in whole in the time given in this video/interview.

He has written and spoke on this issue in more depth. I could of presented another video that’s more in depth, but I wanted to give a concise answer because, I know, not everyone will sit and listen to like a 20 minute video. But, I know, those that really want to dig in will search for even deeper answers from seeing a concise presentation as this.

Ron, perhaps I didn’t phrase it well. With regard to your
“In no way did I infer in that remark that Christians are not included in Zacharias comments. I meant in terms of the overall discussion on the question(s) presented in the video.”

What I mean is that if Zacharias (and you?) includes Christians then he believes that he (and you?) have the final vote in his regeneration (that is, whether he will be born again or not).

You seem to agree with Zacharias on the point that you decide whether you want to be born again or not?

Simply, I agree with Zacharias that someone ultimately chooses their salvation. It has been given and paid for by God but he requires that we acknowledge Him, love and hate what He does, and confess Him to men.

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Luke 12:8 I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

Good video Ron. Do you ever wonder why God did not destroy Satan? I have always said, “That will be the first question I am going to ask Him?” The first thing I am going to say is, “MERCY!” Truly though that is something I have often wondered.
You know to me everyone always thinks the devil is out to get us. To me he hates God so much that is Who he wants to still overthrow. If we could go to heaven and satan be able to overthrow God we would go to heaven. To me he uses us to get back at God. Just wondered about your thoughts on this. God Bless, SR

I’m happy you enjoyed it!
That is an awesome thought on it. I can add the thought that satan continues to do what he does to us because we embody the image of God (man being created in the image of God). Furthermore, he basically got kicked out of heaven for wanting to be superior. So, why wouldn’t he want revenge or continue to try to get what he wants?